HOUSE EDGE
2 – 3%
Typical recreational player
guessing, hunches, side bets
~0.5%
Perfect basic strategy
6-deck, S17, DAS — no counting
−0.5 to −1%
Basic strategy + Hi-Lo counting
player edge with proper bet spread
Edge figures assume 6-deck, dealer stands soft 17, double after split allowed, no surrender. Actual edges vary slightly by casino rules.
BASIC STRATEGY
Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every hand given your cards and the dealer's upcard. It was derived by computer simulation of billions of hands and eliminates all guesswork. Playing basic strategy perfectly cuts the house edge from 2–3% down to roughly 0.5% — the lowest of any casino table game.
HIT
Take another card. Correct when your total is weak and the dealer shows strength (7+).
STAND
Take no more cards. Correct with stiff totals when the dealer is likely to bust (2–6).
DOUBLE
Double your bet and receive exactly one more card. Best on 10 or 11 vs. weak dealer upcards.
SPLIT
Split a pair into two hands. Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 5s or 10s.
HI-LO CARD COUNTING
Card counting tracks the ratio of high cards (10s, Aces) to low cards remaining in the shoe. A deck rich in high cards favors the player — naturals pay 3:2, the dealer busts more often, and doubles/splits become more profitable.
+1
2 – 6
low cards → count goes up
−1
10 – A
high cards → count goes down
The running count is the cumulative total as cards are dealt. The true count adjusts for decks remaining:
True Count = Running Count ÷ Decks Remaining
Example: running count of +6 with 3 decks left = TC of +2. The true count is what drives deviation decisions and bet sizing — not the raw running count.
BET SPREADING
Counting alone doesn't make you money — you have to vary your bets. Bet small when the count is neutral or negative, and increase your bet when the true count goes positive. The difference between your minimum and maximum bet is your bet spread.
TC ≤ 0
1 unit
House has the edge — minimum bet
TC +1–2
2–3 units
Slight player edge
TC +3–4
4–6 units
Clear player advantage
TC +5+
8–12 units
Strong advantage — maximum bet
A 1–12 spread in a 6-deck game yields roughly 0.5–1% player edge. Casinos watch for large bet variation — keeping your spread subtle and using cover play extends longevity at the table.
INDEX PLAYS (DEVIATIONS)
When the true count is high or low enough, the mathematically correct play can differ from basic strategy. These departures are called index plays. The most valuable 18 are the Illustrious 18; the top 4 surrender plays are the Fab 4.
16 vs 10
Stand at TC ≥ 0 (normally hit)
★★★
Insurance
Take at TC ≥ +3 (only time it's correct)
★★★
15 vs 10
Stand at TC ≥ +4
★★★
12 vs 3
Stand at TC ≥ +2
★★
11 vs A
Double at TC ≥ +1
★★
Master basic strategy first. Add the Illustrious 18 + Fab 4 once your count is reliable — they capture ~80% of the EV available from all possible deviations.
LEARNING PATH
1
Memorize basic strategy
Use the Strategy → Chart tab. Drill until every play is automatic.
2
Practice the Hi-Lo count
Use the Count tab. Aim for 100% accuracy before adding speed.
3
Build speed
Use the Speed tab. Work toward accurately counting a 10-card sequence.
4
Learn index plays
Use Strategy → Chart → Deviations. Start with the ★★★ plays.
5
Combine at the table
Count while playing perfect basic strategy, vary bets by true count.